Permutation-padlock.



J. A. GOWI.

PERMUTATION PADLOGK.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 21, 1908.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

L @hmmag JAMES A. COWIE, OF CHESAW, WASHINGTON.

PERMUTATION-PADLOCK.

No. 903,680. Specification of Application filed May 21,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. CoWIE, 1- citizen of the United States,residing at Chesavv, in the county of Okanogan and State oflVasliington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPermuta-A tion-Padlocks, of Which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in permutation padlocks andconsists of the novel features of construction and the combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

One object of the invention is to improve and simplify the constructionand operation of devices of this character and thereby render the saineless expensive and more durable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter by means of Which the combination of the lock may be readilychanged Without altering` the construction of any of its parts.

The above and other objects of the invention are attained in itspreferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying dravvings, in WhichFigure 1 is a side elevation of my improved permutation padlock; Fig. 2is an enlarged sectional vievv through the lock; Fig. 3 is a transversesection taken on the plane indicated by the line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Figs, 4and 5 are detail views of one of the tumblers; and Fig. 6 is a detailvieW of one of the tumbler rings.

My improved padlock comprises tvvo substantially U-shaped sections 1, 2which form the shackle and Which are pivotally connected at one end, asat 8. The free end of the section 1 is formed with a reduced shaft 4 theouter end of Which is externally screw threaded, as at 5, and at theinner end of Which is an annular flange 6 forming a stop shoulder. Theshaft 4 is also formed With a longitudinal groove or channel 7 toreceive the shank or tongue 8 Which is carried by the free end of thesection 2 and is in the form of a lat plate having its outer edge formedWith a series of notches 9.

Arranged for rotation upon the shaft 4 is a series of tumblers 10 whichare retained in position by a nut 11 engaged with the threaded end ofthe shaft and having a groove or channel 12 to register With the groove7 in the shaft When said nut is screwed up upon the latter. Each of theLetters Patent. Patented Nov. 107 1908.

1908. Serial No. 434,154.

tumblers is in the form of a circular disk or plate having a centralbore or opening'l to receive the shaft and a groove or recess 14 whichcorresponds in Width to the thickness of the tongue or shank S and whichis adapted to be brought into register With the groove 7 in the shaft topermit said tongue or shank 8 to be inserted in and Withdrawn from saidgroove 7 to close and open the lock. In one face of each of the tumblersis formed a circular recess or cavity 15 which is concentric With thebore 13 and which is adapted to receive a spring 1G for holding thetumbler under tension and preventing it from being casually rotated.Each of the springs 16 is in the form of a curved or substantiallysemi-circular shaped piece of resilient Wire having one of its ends 17bent at right angles and inserted in a radial socket 18 formed in theshaft 4 and its curved free end bearing against the Wall of the recessor cavity 15, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Byconstructing the tumblers and springs in this manner and arranging thelatter as set forth, it will be seen that the parts of the device may beproduced and assembled at a small cost and will be exceedingly strongand durable.

The numbers, letters or other symbols Which form the combination of thelock may be suitably placed upon the outer edges of the tumblers, but inorder to permit the combination to be conveniently changed Withoutaltering the construction of the lock, I place such combination symbols19 around the outer surface of annular bands or rings 20 which areremovably and rotatably secured to the tumblers. Said rings 20 areadapted to tit the tumblers and the latter are formed adjacent to oneside With annular radially projecting flanges 21 which serve as stopshoulders for` said rings. The rings may be rotated upon the tumblers tobring any combination symbol 19 opposite the groove 14 in the bore 13 ofthe tumbler and it may be then secured in such position by means of asmall set screvv 22 arranged in a threaded opening in the ring andhaving its inner end pointed to impinge against the outer surface of thetumbler, as clearly shovvn in Figs. 2 and 5. It Will be seen that bymeans of this construction the combination of the lock may be quicklyand easily changed by removing the nut 11 and the tumblers and thenshifting the rings or outer sections 20 of the tumblers upon their innersections or body portions, and then replacing the tumblers and the nut.

In operation, it will be seen that when the tumblers are so turned thattheir grooves 14; register with the groove 7 in the shaft, the shank ortongue S may be inserted in or removed froni said registering grooves toclose er open the lock; and that When said tongue is inserted in saidgrooves, and its notches 9 register with the grooves let in thetumblers, the latter may be turned so that they enter the grooves 9 andlock the ,two sections l, 2 of the shackle together. A suitable arrow ormark may be provided upon the flange G and with which the propercombination symbols upon the rings 2O must be brought into transversealinement in order to have the grooves lll register with the groove 7.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A permutation padlock comprising tWo substantially U-shaped sectionspivotally united at one end, one section having its free end formed witha shaft and a shoulder at the inner end of said shaft, the latter beingformed with a longitudinal groove and With a series of seats or sockets,tumblers rotatably mounted upon the shaft and formed in their bores withgrooves to register with the one in the shaft, one face of each of saidtumblers being formed with a concentric cavity, curved springs arrangedin said cavities of the tumblers and having angular ends inserted in theseats or sockets in the shaft and their free ends bearing against theWalls of said cavities to hold the tuinblers under tension, means forretaining the tumblers upon the shaft and a tongue or shank upon thefree end of the other section and formed With notches to receive thetuinblers when said tongue or shank is inserted in the registeringgrooves in the shaft and tumblers, substantially as described.

2. A permutation padlock comprising pivotally united sections, onesection having its free end provided With a grooved shaft and the othersection With a notched tongue to enter the groove in said shaft,rotatable tumblers upon said shaft, each tumbler being in the forni of acircular plate or disk having its bore formed With a groove to registerwith the groove in the shaft and its outer surface formed upon one sidewith a radially projecting annular ange, rings carrying combinationsymbols rotatably mounted on said tumblers and engaged with said iiangesand formed With threaded apertures, and set screws arranged in thethreaded apertures of said rings and adapted to iinpinge against thetumblers to hold the rings in adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

JAMES A. COWIE. Witnesses J. L. CREssoN, VILLIAM lVnneinv.

